“ It’s an honor to be in jail for justice!!!!!!!”

On April 24th, SMC received a great figure, Dolores Huerta. She is not just a mother of 11 but also a great activist and a labor leader. She attended the first Community College, today known as Delta College and she started her work 40 years ago as an activist.
Huerta talked about various subjects, but it seemed that her principal concern, and which she actively battles for, is farm workers rights.

However, we couldn’t have a discussion without mentioning Iraq. She showed how unjust it was that our taxes paid for the war. She expressed herself about the mothers of those soldiers who lost their lives in this war. As a mother she felt very sorry for them as the number of people killed was not considered much and pointed out how the media didn’t tell how many Iraqis were killed, while they mentioned how many Americans were killed. She also said that 2004 should be a year of new Congress and a new regime for peace.

Education was a very important point she brought up. Huerta was applauded when she said that, “ Education is a right and should not be accessible just for those who have money”. She mentioned how Education was not accessible for everyone during slavery and how very intelligent people didn’t have the chance to study because they couldn’t afford it. Then we learned that everybody can study in Cuba, and that they even have free health care. Some American students even went to the University there, free of charge. She mentioned that in Cuba, women get 60% of their salary while taking care of their new baby and that they are assured to go back to work after one year.

Huerta showed her concern about the quality of our education system, giving as example, California and Mississippi where the education level of 12th grade is equal as the 8th grade level. Latino kids are struggling in class because ,while most of them barely speak English, some just speak the indigenous language of Mexico or Guatemala. She also pointed out that not only did students have troubles but teachers also, as 20% are being cut. Then she said “We pay for the government, they work for us, and instead of using our money for prisons they should use it for schools.”

Dolores Huerta asked us what was the most important day in our life? Not our birthday, she said, but “the most important day in your life is election day”. She said that people should be involved in politics. People should VOTE, and that would make a tremendous difference.

Huerta criticized the American system concerning their wealth. She said the United States is very wealthy and should use that to do good; every person should have personal care.
Huerta acknowledged that throughout her battle for justice she has been arrested more than 20 times, and then she proudly said that it was an honor to be able to go to jail for justice.

Racism was another subject discussed. She addressed the Latinos students present, telling them that when they are told to go back to where they come from, they should respond : “we are where we come from! We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.”
Finally Huerta talked about women’s rights. She insisted that women are not servants nor are they sex objects.

We closed our meetings with Vivas to the students, the teachers, and to the world.

Masayi JOHNSON is a student at Santa Monica College, and the Focus on SMC Section Editor for Voices Magazine.